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司提反当众申诉

大祭司就说:“这些事果然有吗?” 司提反说:“诸位父兄请听!当日我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕美索不达米亚,还未住哈兰的时候,荣耀的神向他显现, 对他说:‘你要离开本地和亲族,往我所要指示你的地方去。’ 他就离开迦勒底人之地,住在哈兰。他父亲死了以后,神使他从那里搬到你们现在所住之地。 在这地方,神并没有给他产业,连立足之地也没有给他;但应许要将这地赐给他和他的后裔为业,那时他还没有儿子。 神说他的后裔‘必寄居外邦,那里的人要叫他们做奴仆,苦待他们四百年’。 神又说‘使他们做奴仆的那国,我要惩罚。以后他们要出来,在这地方侍奉我’。 神又赐他割礼的约;于是亚伯拉罕生了以撒,第八日给他行了割礼。以撒雅各雅各生十二位先祖。 先祖嫉妒约瑟,把他卖到埃及去。神却与他同在, 10 救他脱离一切苦难,又使他在埃及王法老面前得恩典、有智慧。法老就派他做埃及国的宰相兼管全家。 11 后来埃及迦南全地遭遇饥荒,大受艰难,我们的祖宗就绝了粮。 12 雅各听见在埃及有粮,就打发我们的祖宗初次往那里去。 13 第二次约瑟与弟兄们相认,他的亲族也被法老知道了。 14 约瑟就打发弟兄请父亲雅各和全家七十五个人都来。 15 于是雅各下了埃及。后来他和我们的祖宗都死在那里, 16 又被带到示剑,葬于亚伯拉罕示剑用银子从哈抹子孙买来的坟墓里。 17 及至神应许亚伯拉罕的日期将到,以色列民在埃及兴盛众多, 18 直到有不晓得约瑟的新王兴起。 19 他用诡计待我们的宗族,苦害我们的祖宗,叫他们丢弃婴孩,使婴孩不能存活。 20 那时,摩西生下来,俊美非凡,在他父亲家里抚养了三个月。 21 他被丢弃的时候,法老的女儿拾了去,养为自己的儿子。 22 摩西学了埃及人一切的学问,说话行事都有才能。 23 他将到四十岁,心中起意去看望他的弟兄以色列人。 24 到了那里,见他们一个人受冤屈,就护庇他,为那受欺压的人报仇,打死了那埃及人。 25 他以为弟兄必明白神是借他的手搭救他们,他们却不明白。 26 第二天遇见两个以色列人争斗,就劝他们和睦,说:‘你们二位是弟兄,为什么彼此欺负呢?’ 27 那欺负邻舍的把他推开,说:‘谁立你做我们的首领和审判官呢? 28 难道你要杀我,像昨天杀那埃及人吗?’ 29 摩西听见这话就逃走了,寄居于米甸,在那里生了两个儿子。 30 过了四十年,在西奈山的旷野,有一位天使从荆棘火焰中向摩西显现。 31 摩西见了那异象,便觉稀奇,正进前观看的时候,有主的声音说: 32 ‘我是你列祖的神,就是亚伯拉罕的神、以撒的神、雅各的神。’摩西战战兢兢,不敢观看。 33 主对他说:‘把你脚上的鞋脱下来,因为你所站之地是圣地。 34 我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦,我实在看见了;他们悲叹的声音,我也听见了。我下来要救他们。你来!我要差你往埃及去。’ 35 摩西就是百姓弃绝说‘谁立你做我们的首领和审判官’的,神却借那在荆棘中显现之使者的手,差派他做首领、做救赎的。 36 这人领百姓出来,在埃及,在红海,在旷野四十年间,行了奇事神迹。 37 那曾对以色列人说‘神要从你们弟兄中间给你们兴起一位先知像我’的,就是这位摩西 38 这人曾在旷野会中和西奈山上与那对他说话的天使同在,又与我们的祖宗同在,并且领受活泼的圣言传给我们。 39 我们的祖宗不肯听从,反弃绝他,心里归向埃及 40 亚伦说:‘你且为我们造些神像,在我们前面引路,因为领我们出埃及地的那个摩西,我们不知道他遭了什么事。’ 41 那时,他们造了一个牛犊,又拿祭物献给那像,欢喜自己手中的工作。 42 神就转脸不顾,任凭他们侍奉天上的日月星辰,正如先知书上所写的说:‘以色列家啊,你们四十年间在旷野,岂是将牺牲和祭物献给我吗? 43 你们抬着摩洛的帐幕和理番神的星,就是你们所造为要敬拜的像。因此,我要把你们迁到巴比伦外去。’ 44 我们的祖宗在旷野有法柜的帐幕,是神吩咐摩西叫他照所看见的样式做的。 45 这帐幕,我们的祖宗相继承受。当神在他们面前赶出外邦人去的时候,他们同约书亚把帐幕搬进承受为业之地,直存到大卫的日子。 46 大卫在神面前蒙恩,祈求为雅各的神预备居所, 47 却是所罗门为神造成殿宇。 48 其实,至高者并不住人手所造的,就如先知所言: 49 ‘主说:“天是我的座位,地是我的脚凳,你们要为我造何等的殿宇?哪里是我安息的地方呢? 50 这一切不都是我手所造的吗?”’ 51 你们这硬着颈项、心与耳未受割礼的人,常时抗拒圣灵!你们的祖宗怎样,你们也怎样。 52 哪一个先知不是你们祖宗逼迫呢?他们也把预先传说那义者要来的人杀了,如今你们又把那义者卖了、杀了。 53 你们受了天使所传的律法,竟不遵守!”

看见神的荣耀

54 众人听见这话,就极其恼怒,向司提反咬牙切齿。 55 司提反被圣灵充满,定睛望天,看见神的荣耀,又看见耶稣站在神的右边, 56 就说:“我看见天开了,人子站在神的右边!”

众人用石打死他

57 众人大声喊叫,捂着耳朵,齐心拥上前去, 58 把他推到城外,用石头打他。作见证的人把衣裳放在一个少年人名叫扫罗的脚前。 59 他们正用石头打的时候,司提反呼吁主说:“求主耶稣接收我的灵魂!” 60 又跪下大声喊着说:“主啊,不要将这罪归于他们!”说了这话就睡了。扫罗也喜悦他被害。

司提凡的申辩

大祭司问:“这是真的吗?” 司提凡说:“各位父老兄弟,请听我说!我们的祖先亚伯拉罕还未迁到哈兰之前,住在美索不达米亚,荣耀的上帝向他显现,说, ‘你要离开家乡和亲族,到我要指示你的地方去。’ 亚伯拉罕就离开迦勒底人的地方,在哈兰住了下来。他父亲过世以后,上帝又领他到你们现在居住的这个地方。 当时在这片土地上,上帝没有给他任何产业,他甚至连立足之地也没有。但上帝应许要把这片土地赐给他和他的后裔作产业,尽管那时候亚伯拉罕还没有儿子。 上帝又说,‘你的子孙必流落异乡,受奴役、被虐待四百年。 但我必惩罚奴役他们的国家,之后你的子孙要离开那里,在这片土地上事奉我。’ 上帝又赐下割礼作为祂与亚伯拉罕立约的凭据。亚伯拉罕在以撒出生后的第八天为他行割礼。照样,以撒为他的儿子雅各行了割礼,雅各也为他的儿子——以色列十二位先祖行了割礼。[a]

“先祖们嫉妒自己的弟弟约瑟,把他卖到了埃及。但上帝一直与他同在, 10 救他脱离一切危难,又赐他过人的智慧,使他在埃及法老面前得到恩宠,官拜宰相治理全国,并管理王室。 11 后来,埃及和迦南全境遭遇饥荒,灾情严重,我们的先祖们断了粮。 12 雅各听说埃及有粮,就派先祖们去那里买粮,那是我们的先祖初次去埃及。 13 他们第二次去的时候,约瑟才和弟兄们相认,并且领他们拜见埃及王。 14 后来,约瑟派人去把父亲雅各和全族七十五人都接到埃及。 15 从此以后,雅各和其他先祖们便定居埃及,直到去世。 16 后来他们的遗体被带回示剑,安葬在亚伯拉罕买自哈抹子孙的墓地里。

17 “上帝对亚伯拉罕所应许的日子快到的时侯,以色列人在埃及的人口已大大增加。 18 后来埃及有一位不认识约瑟的新王登基。 19 他用毒计苦害我们的同胞,虐待我们的祖先,强令他们把婴孩抛弃,不让婴孩存活。 20 那时,摩西出生了,他长得俊美非凡。他的父母在家里偷偷地抚养了他三个月, 21 最后不得已才丢弃他。法老的女儿救了他,收为养子。

22 “摩西学会了埃及人一切的学问,成为一个说话办事很有能力的人。 23 他四十岁那年决定去探望自己的同胞以色列人。 24 他到了他们那里,看见一个埃及人正在欺负以色列人,就打抱不平,杀了那个埃及人。 25 摩西以为同胞们会明白上帝要借着他的手拯救他们,可是他们并不明白。 26 第二天,他看见两个以色列人在打架,就上前劝解说,‘大家都是同胞,为什么互相殴打呢?’ 27 不料那个欺负人的推开摩西说,‘谁立你做我们的首领和审判官? 28 难道你要杀我,像昨天杀那个埃及人一样吗?’ 29 摩西听了这话,就逃到米甸寄居,在那里成家,生了两个儿子。

30 “过了四十年,在西奈山的旷野,上帝的天使在荆棘火焰中向摩西显现。 31 摩西见状很惊奇,正要上前看个究竟,就听见主说, 32 ‘我是你祖先的上帝,是亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的上帝。’摩西战战兢兢,不敢观看。 33 主又说,‘脱下你脚上的鞋子,因为你所站的地方是圣地。 34 我已清楚看见我子民在埃及所受的苦难,也听见了他们的哀叹,我下来要救他们。你来,我要派你回埃及。’

35 “百姓曾拒绝这位摩西,说,‘谁立你做我们的首领和审判官?’上帝却借着在荆棘中显现的天使亲自差遣他,立他为首领和拯救者。 36 摩西带领以色列人出埃及,过红海,越旷野,四十年间行了许多神迹奇事。 37 就是这位摩西曾对以色列人说,‘上帝要在你们中间兴起一位像我一样的先知。’ 38 这位摩西曾在旷野与以色列的会众——我们的祖先在一起,又在西奈山上与向他传信息的天使在一起,并且领受了生命之道传给我们。

39 “可是我们的祖先不听从他,甚至弃绝他,心里对埃及恋恋不舍。 40 他们请求亚伦说,‘为我们造一些神像来带领我们吧!领我们离开埃及的那个摩西不知怎样了。’ 41 于是,他们造了一个牛犊像,向它献祭,并为自己所做的事沾沾自喜。 42 因此,上帝转脸不顾他们,任由他们祭拜日月星辰,正如先知书的记载,

“‘以色列家啊,
在旷野的四十年间,
你们向我献过祭物和供品吗?
43 你们抬着为自己所造的神像,
就是摩洛的帐篷和理番神明的星,
祭拜它们,
所以我要把你们赶到比巴比伦还远的地方去。’

44 “我们的祖先在旷野的时候,一直带着安放约柜的圣幕,这圣幕是上帝吩咐摩西照他所看见的样式造的。 45 后来我们的祖先承受了圣幕。上帝从我们祖先面前赶走外族人,使他们得到了应许之地。他们同约书亚把圣幕带到那里,一直到大卫的时代。 46 大卫蒙上帝悦纳,祈求为雅各的上帝建造一座圣殿。 47 结果是他的儿子所罗门为上帝建成了圣殿。

48 “其实至高的上帝并不住人造的殿,祂曾借着先知说, 49 ‘天是我的宝座,地是我的脚凳,你们要为我造怎样的殿宇?哪里可作我的安歇之处? 50 这一切不都是我亲手创造的吗?’

51 “你们这些顽固不化、耳不听心不悔的人[b],经常抗拒圣灵,所作所为和你们的祖先如出一辙! 52 哪一位先知没有被你们祖先迫害?那些预言义者——弥赛亚要来的人也被你们的祖先杀害。如今你们竟出卖了那位公义者,杀害了祂! 53 你们接受了上帝借天使所传的律法,竟不遵守!”

司提凡殉道

54 众人听了这番话,怒火中烧,咬牙切齿。 55 司提凡却被圣灵充满,定睛望天,看见上帝的荣耀和站在上帝右边的耶稣。 56 司提凡说:“看啊!我看见天开了,人子站在上帝的右边。”

57 众人大喊大叫,捂着耳朵,蜂拥而上, 58 把司提凡拉到城外,用石头打他。指控他的人把他们的衣服交给一个名叫扫罗的青年看管。 59 在乱石击打之下,司提凡呼求说:“主耶稣啊,接收我的灵魂吧!”然后跪下高声说: 60 “主啊,不要追究他们的罪!”说完后,就断气了。

Footnotes

  1. 7:8 第八节后半部分或译“以撒生雅各,雅各生以色列十二位先祖。”
  2. 7:51 耳不听心不悔的人”希腊文是“心与耳未受割礼的人”。

司提反的话

这时,大祭司问道∶“事实是这样的吗?” 司提反答道∶“父老兄弟们,请听我说!我们的祖先亚伯拉罕还在米所波大米时,也就是移居哈兰之前,荣耀无比的上帝便出现在他的面前, 对他说∶‘离开你的故土和亲人,到我指给你看的地方去。’ [a] 所以,亚伯拉罕便离开了迦勒底人的国土,来到了哈兰。他的父亲去世后,上帝又让他从那里搬迁到了你们现在生活的地方。 上帝没有给他任何产业,连立足之地也没有给他。然而,上帝却许下诺言,要把那块土地赐给他和他的后代做为财产,尽管亚伯拉罕当时并没有孩子。 上帝是这样对他说的∶‘你的子孙后代要成为异乡的陌生人,那里的人要奴役、虐待他们四百年。 然后,我会惩罚奴役他们的民族。’上帝还说∶‘然后,他们会离开那里,在这个地方崇拜我。’ 于是,上帝赐给了亚伯拉罕割礼的契约。接着,亚伯拉罕做了以撒的父亲。并在以撒出生之后的第八天,给他行了割礼,后来,以撒做了雅各的父亲,雅各又做了十二个族长的父亲。

这些族长非常嫉妒约瑟(他们的弟弟)。他们把他卖到了埃及做奴隶,但是,上帝与他同在。 10 上帝把他从他的一切困苦中解救了出来。上帝又赐给约瑟智慧,使他能够得到埃及王法老的宠爱。后来,法老让他做了埃及的宰相,并兼掌他的全部家眷。 11 后来,埃及和迦南各地都发生了大饥荒,那里的人们都受着煎熬。我们的祖先找不到食物。 12 雅各听说埃及有食物,便派遣我们的祖先到那里去了-这是第一次。 13 他们第二次去埃及的时候,约瑟便与几个兄弟相认了,法老由此了解了约瑟的家庭。 14 约瑟又派人去请来他的父亲雅各和所有的亲属,一共七十五人。 15 雅各南下埃及。他和我们的祖先们最后都死在那里。 16 他们的尸体被运回示剑,葬在亚伯拉罕用一笔钱向哈抹的儿子们买来的墓穴里。

17 当上帝对亚伯拉罕许下的诺言就要实现的时候,在埃及的以色列人已经大大地增多了。 18 然后,新国王登基,开始统治埃及。他一点也不了解约瑟。 19 这个国王狡猾地欺骗我们的民族,虐待他们,强迫他们把婴儿丢弃在屋外,为了让他们活不下去。 20 就在那时候,摩西出世了,他长得非常可爱。在他父亲家里抚养了三个月。 21 当他被放在外边时,法老的女儿收养了他,把他当做自己的儿子来哺育。 22 因此,摩西受到了完整的埃及智慧的教育,他的语言和行动都具有力量。

23 摩西大约四十岁的时候,决定去拜访他的兄弟,也就是那些以色列人。 24 当他看到一个同胞正在受虐待时,便去卫护他,把那个欺负他的埃及人杀掉,为他报了仇。 25 (摩西以为他自己的犹太兄弟们会知道,是上帝派他来解救他们的,但是,他们却没有意识到这点。) 26 第二天,他遇见一些同胞在打架,他想替他们调解,于是便说∶“你们都是兄弟,为什么要虐待彼此呢?” 27 可是,那个欺负自己邻居的人却把摩西推到了一边,说∶“谁指定你做我们的领袖和法官了? 28 你昨天杀了那个埃及人,今天你是不是要来杀我呀?” 29 摩西听到这些,便离开了埃及,去了米甸,在那里客居下来,并且生了两个儿子。

30 四十年后,一位天使在西乃山附近旷野里燃烧着荆棘的火焰中,在摩西的面前出现了。 31 摩西见到这个情景,觉得十分惊奇。他走近它,想看得更清楚一些。这时,他听到了主的声音说: 32 “我是你的祖先们的上帝,是亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各 [b]的上帝。”摩西听了,吓得浑身颤栗,不敢看了。 33 主又对他说∶“把你脚上的草鞋脱下来,因为你站的那块土地是神圣的土地。 34 我已目睹了我的子民在埃及所受的虐待,我已经听到了他们的呻吟,我下到这里是解放我的子民的。来吧,我要把你派谴回埃及。”

35 这就是那个被人拒弃说“谁指定你做我们的领袖和法官了?”的摩西。上帝借出现在燃烧的荆棘中的天使派遣他做了领袖和救世主。 36 摩西带领人们离开了埃及。他在埃及国土、在红海之滨和旷野里四十年中,做出一个又一个奇事和迹象。 37 摩西对以色列人是这样说的∶“上帝要从你们自己人当中为你们派遣一位像我这样的先知。” 38 他和聚集在旷野里的以色列人在一起、和我们的祖先,以及在西乃山上与他说话的那个天使在一起,他领受了赋予生命的话,然后把它给了我们。

39 但是,我们的祖先们不但拒绝服从他,而且还抛弃了他,他们在心里又回到埃及去了。 40 他们对亚伦说∶“造一些为我们引路的神吧,这个指引我们走出埃及的摩西,我们不知道他遇到过什么事。” 41 就在那时,他们造了一头牛犊的像,并把祭品献给这个偶像,接着开始为他们双手造出的东西而庆祝。 42 可是,上帝离开他们了,任凭他们去崇拜星辰。正如先知书上所记载的那样:

‘以色列的居民啊,
你们在旷野里生活了四十年,
你们的牺牲和祭物,不是为我献上的。
43 你们抬着摩洛的帐篷和你们理番神的星辰,
即你们崇拜的偶像;
因此,我要逐出你们
到巴比伦的另一边去。’ (A)

44 “在旷野里与我们祖先们同在的圣帐,是上帝吩咐摩西按照他看见的样式制做成的。 45 我们的祖先继承了这圣帐,当上帝在他们前边赶走外族人占据的那片土地时,约书亚便带领他们占据了那片土地,圣帐也被带到那里,直到大卫的时代。 46 大卫受着上帝的宠爱,于是请求允许他为雅各的上帝造一座殿宇, 47 但是却是所罗门为上帝建造了这所殿宇。

48 不过,至高的上帝没有住在人类双手所建的房子里,正如一个先知所说的那样:

49 ‘天是我的宝座,
地是我的垫脚凳,
你们要为我盖一所什么样的房子呢?主说,
或者说,那里是我休息的地方呢?
50 难道这一切不都是我创造出来的吗?’” (B)

51 “你们这些顽固的犹太领袖,你们没有把心交给上帝!你们就是不听他的!你们总是抵制圣灵,就像你们的祖先一样! 52 过去,哪一个先知没有遭到过你们祖先的迫害?他们甚至杀掉了那些很久以前预言“义者要到来”的先知。而现在,你们又出卖并且杀害了那义者。 53 你们领受了天使传给你们的律法,但是却从不遵守它!”

司提反被杀害

54 那些犹太人听到这里,都火冒三丈,对他恨得咬牙切齿。 55 然而,司提反的心中充满了圣灵,举目望天,看见了上帝的荣耀和站在他右侧的耶稣。 56 他说∶“看哪,我看见天空开启,人子正站在上帝的右侧。”

57 听到这番话,他们开始大喊大叫起来,并堵住自己的耳朵,然后,他们便朝司提反蜂拥而上, 58 把他拉出城去,开始用石头砸他。那些见证人脱下外套,放在一个年轻人的脚边。这个年轻人名字叫扫罗。 59 当那帮人不断用石头砸司提反时,司提反祷告道∶“主耶稣啊,接受我的灵吧!” 60 随后,他跪下来,大声喊道∶“主啊,不要为此罪责怪他们!”说完,他就死了。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 7:3 引自《创世记》12:1。
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 7:32 亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各: 在旧约时代最重要的犹太人的领袖中的三人。

Stephen's Speech

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said:

(A)“Brothers and fathers, hear me. (B)The God (C)of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, (D)before he lived in Haran, and said to him, (E)‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ (F)Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And (G)after his father died, (H)God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised (I)to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, (J)though he had no child. And God spoke to this effect—that (K)his offspring would (L)be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them (M)four hundred years. ‘But (N)I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out (O)and worship me in this place.’ And (P)he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And (Q)so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and (R)circumcised him on the eighth day, and (S)Isaac became the father of Jacob, and (T)Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

“And the patriarchs, (U)jealous of Joseph, (V)sold him into Egypt; but (W)God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and (X)gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, (Y)who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now (Z)there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 (AA)But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 And (AB)on the second visit (AC)Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and (AD)Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. 14 And (AE)Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, (AF)seventy-five persons in all. 15 And (AG)Jacob went down into Egypt, and (AH)he died, he (AI)and our fathers, 16 and (AJ)they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that (AK)Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

17 “But (AL)as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, (AM)the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king (AN)who did not know Joseph. 19 (AO)He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, (AP)so that they would not be kept alive. 20 (AQ)At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, 21 and (AR)when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses (AS)was instructed in (AT)all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was (AU)mighty in his words and deeds.

23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart (AV)to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 (AW)And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, (AX)‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort (AY)Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, (AZ)where he became the father of two sons.

30 “Now when forty years had passed, (BA)an angel appeared to him (BB)in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 (BC)‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, (BD)‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 (BE)I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and (BF)have heard their groaning, and (BG)I have come down to deliver them. (BH)And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, (BI)saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer (BJ)by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 (BK)This man led them out, performing (BL)wonders and signs (BM)in Egypt and (BN)at the Red Sea and (BO)in the wilderness for (BP)forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you (BQ)a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one (BR)who was in the congregation in the wilderness with (BS)the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. (BT)He received (BU)living (BV)oracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and (BW)in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, (BX)‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And (BY)they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and (BZ)were rejoicing in (CA)the works of their hands. 42 But (CB)God turned away and (CC)gave them over to worship (CD)the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:

(CE)“‘Did you bring to me slain beasts and sacrifices,
    (CF)during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tent of (CG)Moloch
    and the star of your god Rephan,
    the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had (CH)the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses (CI)directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn (CJ)brought it in with Joshua when they (CK)dispossessed the nations (CL)that God drove out before our fathers. So it was (CM)until the days of David, 46 (CN)who found favor in the sight of God and (CO)asked to find a dwelling place for (CP)the God of Jacob.[a] 47 But it was (CQ)Solomon who built a house for him. 48 (CR)Yet the Most High does not dwell (CS)in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

49 (CT)“‘Heaven is my throne,
    (CU)and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,
    or what is the place of my rest?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?’

51 (CV)“You stiff-necked people, (CW)uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. (CX)As your fathers did, so do you. 52 (CY)Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of (CZ)the Righteous One, (DA)whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law (DB)as delivered by angels and (DC)did not keep it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54 Now when they heard these things (DD)they were enraged, and they (DE)ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, (DF)full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw (DG)the glory of God, and Jesus standing (DH)at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see (DI)the heavens opened, and (DJ)the Son of Man standing (DK)at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[b] at him. 58 Then (DL)they cast him out of the city and (DM)stoned him. And (DN)the witnesses laid down their garments (DO)at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, (DP)he called out, “Lord Jesus, (DQ)receive my spirit.” 60 And (DR)falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, (DS)“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, (DT)he fell asleep.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 7:46 Some manuscripts for the house of Jacob
  2. Acts 7:57 Or rushed with one mind